gregg



(No Model.)

L. DAGUE & J. F. GREGG.-

CAR COUPLING.

Patented Oct. 19, 1897'.

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N ED STATES.

'AT ENT FFICE,

' LEVI DAGUE AND JAMES'F. GREGG, or'wAsnI GToN, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING,

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 592,132, dated October 19, 1897.

' Application filed January 14, 1897. Serial No. 619,265. (No model.)

To aIZZ whom, if; may concern:

Be it known that we, LEVL DAGUE' and J AMES F. GREGG, citizens of the United States, residing at Washington, in the county of Washington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered anewand useful Improvement in Car-Couplers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of our improved draw-head. Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof. Fig.3 is a similar View with the upper part of the draw-head removed, the locking-jaw being shown open. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line IV IV of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar section on the line V V of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail viewin perspective of the locking-gate. Fig. 7 is a detail showing a modified form of locking-gate spring.

Our invention relates to the class of twinjaw couplers conforming to the Master Gar- Builders standard, and has reference more particularly to the mechanism employed for locking and unlocking the tail of the swinging jaw and to the means for throwing the jaw outwardly when released and for returning the locking-gate to its locking position,

the construction otherwise involving no change from the well-known and commonlyused type of J anney couplers.

Referring to the drawings, 2 is the drawhead, in which is pivoted the usual swinging jaw or knuckle 3, provided with the extended tailpiece 4, made with a vertical fiat face 5 on its inner side and having its outer end rounded The interior of the draw-head is hollow, and extending across the inner cavity in the path of the swinging tailpiece 4 of the knuckle is the latch 7, pivoted at 8 and adapted to be thrown back by the rounded end 6 of the tailpiece, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, in the act of coupling, and to bear at its end 9 against thefiat end 5 of the tailpiece, as indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby securely retaining it in position.

The pivotal bolt 8 of the latch is keyed to it by a key 10, and extends downwardly below the bottom of the draw-head, and is provided with aslot 8/,engaging one end of a coiled spring 11, the other end of the spring being insertedin the bottom of the draw-head. By this means pressure is exerted through the bolt 8, tending to throw the latch forwardly against a limiting-stop 12, so that when the end of the tailpiece presses it back to the position shownin dotted lines in Fig. 3, in its backward travel, the pressure of the spring will cause it to fly forward when released and bear against the tailpiece, as already described.

For the purpose of disengaging the latch from the tailpiece we have provided a lever 13, pivoted at 14 and engaging a bolt 15, tapped into the bottom of the latch through a curved slot 16 in the bottom of the draw-head. The lever, at its end, is attached by a chain 17 to any desired operating device.

The knuckle 3is pivoted on a bolt 18, to which it is keyed by a key 19, which also extends below the bottom of the draw-head and is provided with a slot 20, engaging one end of a coiled spring '20, the other end of the 'spring being inserted in the bottom of the .spring may be employed to rotate the pivotal bolts-as, for instance, a wire cable 26 may be wound around the bolt and attached to a spring 27 at any convenient point, as shown in Fig. 7, thereby securing the same results.

Retaining-stops 21 22 on the draw-head and knuckle, respectively, serve to limit its outward movement. When so constructed, the knuckle will be thrown by the spring automatically outward into the open position ready for coupling, and by this means the usual operation of drawing it out byhand or by other mechanical means isobviated, as upon releasing the latch from engagement by action of the chain and lever the knuckle" instantly assumes the desired position, and the coupler is ready for operation. It will be seen that the pivotal end of the latch bears against the interior of the draw-head, thereby taking all strain off of the pivotal bolt 8. The coiled springs 11 and 20 are inclosed and protected by a suitable cover or housing 23,

held in position by washers and pins 24 25, or it may be inserted in the draw-head around the bolts.

The advantages of our invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and accustomed to the use of couplers, and while we are aware that mechanical means have been employed to throw the knuckle outwardly we believe we are the first to employ a spring in the manner we have described.

That we claim is- 1. The combination of a draw head, a spring-con trolled coupling-j aw pivotally connected therewith, a latch, a pivotal bolt keyed thereto, a coiled spring encircling the pivotal bolt with one end inserted in the draw-head and the other end secured to the pivotal bolt, and a retracting-lever pivoted to the bottom of the draw-head engaging a bolt secured to the latch and passing through a slot in the bottom of the draw-head, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a draw head, a spring-controlled coupling-jaw pivotally connected therewith, a latch, a pivotal bolt keyed thereto, a coiled spring encircling the pivotal bolt with one end inserted in the draw-head and the other end seeu red to the pivotal bolt,

an inelosing shield for the spring entirely surrounding it, a retracting-lever pivoted to the bottom of the draw-head engaging a bolt secured to the latch and passing through a slot in the bottom of the draw-head, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a draw-head, a latch, a pivotal bolt keyed thereto, a coiled spring encircling the pivotal bolt with one end inserted in the draw-head and the other end secured to the pivotal bolt, an inelosing shield for the spring, and a retracting-lever for the latch; of a coupling-jaw, a pivotal bolt passing through the draw-head and keyed to the coupling-jaw, a coiled spring encircling the bolt seated in a recess in the draw-head with one end in engagement therewith and the other secured to the pivotal bolt, and an inelosing shield for the spring, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 8th day of December, 1896.

LEVI DAGUE. JAMES F. GREGG.

Witnesses:

PETER J. Enwnnns, C. M. CLARKE. 

